wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. WebInstall the tread first, then the nosing, and the riser after. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We're a team of veteran home improvement professionals looking to pass along our knowledge. Laminate flooring is rated from 1 to 5 based on durability, with 5 being the most durable. By using our site, you agree to our. Install should look just like picture. Grab your copy now for all the DIY help you need right at your finger tips! Cut your laminate piece along that line using a miter saw a fine toothed blade works wonders here. 3). Stair nosings are usually installed at the front edge of stair treads, mainly to increase the slip resistance of the staircase. Measure the stair tread and cut the planks to fit. Use wood glue to glue your laminate together. In addition, laminate flooring can be high-gloss and very slippery - which may be a concern if you have young children in the house. Once dry, you can cut that piece to fit your tread and the riser. This will improve the adhesion between the laminate and subfloor. You need to make sure that they will sit snugly on top of the tread piece, and are level with the top of the riser. In the case of carpets, a pair of pliers will be sufficient to remove this obstruction quickly. jobs, You must log in or register to reply here. When it comes to laminate flooring, you can do most of the work yourself, but if you arent confident in your carpentry abilities, you may want to consider hiring a professional to perform the job. Web1st Choice: switch the floor to solid hardwood ORjust find a bilevel reducerartistic finishes makes one to bridge 3/4 to 3/8you may just have to stain and poly it yourself if they dont make one to match the laminate you havealso youll need to find a dealer who sells their stuffI dont think they sell straight to consumer. Steps To Install Laminate Flooring At Top Of Stairs Choose Laminate Flooring Allow Laminate To Adapt to Room Temperature Remove Old Adhesive Cut feedback. How to Install Laminate Flooring on Open Stairs - SFGATE You dont want imperfections in a high traffic area youll see them every day. WebMeasure the length of the stair tread from side to side. New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. If youve got the necessary tools and a little spare time on your hands, you can install laminate flooring yourself despite the fact that its not the easiest material to work with. You will not be able to utilize laminate flooring on stairs as a floating floor system, thus do not use underlayment when installing laminate flooring on stairs. Prepare the stairs. The planks are easier If you choose to nail, drill pilot holes first to help you drive the nails easily. It is extremely tacky when handling, which means when you glue your laminate planks together, the initial bond is tight and you dont have to hold it. The laminate nose, in particular, can get dislodged easily due to wear and tear, so youll want to use quality construction adhesive along as well. Whats more, underlayment padding will improve the underfoot feel of your laminate stairway. Also, your tread wont go to the edge of the stair. If you already have flooring on your stairs, you should remove it as well as any underlayment. A tread and riser are about a total of 5 square feet. Many of you will discover that your stairwell has an overhanging section. If you dont have nail guns or a chop saw (which is another useful item to have on hand because it allows you to make very accurate cuts), you can rent them if you dont already have them. Thanks for taking the time to review this article if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about how you installed laminate flooring in your house then please drop me a line. That photo is protected by a clear aluminum oxide finish, which maintains the look of the laminate while providing additional protection. 3. Would it be Okay to Lay Laminate Flooring on Top of This Type of Flooring. laminate flooring stairs Youll also need the nosing that goes with your laminate product. Hope that helps. Smooth surfaces like vinyl or other synthetics do not glue as well. On the other hand, understand that when you buy laminate flooring, you are buying a product that is essentially a stew of chemicals hardened into a plank that you can walk on. Its cheap, durable, and it looks good if installed properly. Glue enough planks of laminate together so that it fits the width of your tread. If you have carpeting installed, use a pair of pliers to remove any nails holding the carpet in place. If you do it the other way round by fitting the wood up to the carpet, you won't be sure of the gap as you will in effect knock the wood down till you get a clean finished edge. How to Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs Just be sure to nail the plywood in place before installing the laminate. Since you are gluing your laminate as well as nailing it, youll want a surface beneath your laminate that provides optimal adhesion. As you move down your steps, make sure your risers are not protruding up above the tread subfloor. Laminate flooring has become a popular choice for stair flooring in recent years. A table saw is the easiest way to cut these planks, as they are typically 4 long. Starting from the top of the staircase, lay down your first tread piece. You then glue the nosing and also screw it in. For starters, the stairwell is one of the most high-traffic areas in your home. Place the stair nose on the front of the step. Knowing how to put laminate flooring on stairs like a specialist, you can be certain that yours is installed perfectly and enjoy the total change of your new staircase. Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search. I'm the head writer, Joe. It only takes a minute to sign up. However, many people are concerned about the possibility, Read More How Long Does it Take To Install Laminate Flooring [Truth Revealed]Continue, Laminate flooring is becoming increasingly popular among homes as a result of its appealing appearance, functionality, and long-lasting sturdiness. Flooring Starting near the top of the stairs, use pliers to pull up the carpet from a corner, freeing it from the tack strip or staples that hold it in place. MIP Model with relaxed integer constraints takes longer to solve than normal model, why? This can be tricky if they are glued or nailed into place. Typically the solution at the bottom of the stairs is to use a quarter-round (Usually 3/4" thick) to cover the flooring and the bottom of the carpe Always glue laminate on the tongue and not the groove. Despite these functionalities, some homeowners remain skeptical of the safety of stair noses. A laminate cutter works well, but that requires you to have a laminate cutter which most people dont own. Nearly all laminate flooring comes in 48 lengths. They are sold separately and are designed to be used in conjunction with normal laminate planks on the edge of the stair tread to create a clean look and continuity between the tread and riser. Then cut through the middle of each spindle hole, going in a straight line the width of the tread. We have teamed up with the industries best to help you find a trustworthy tradesman local to you! Assuming your stairs are of uniform size, cut your treads first. It is possible that your stairwell has an overhang from the existing nosing (the protruding edge of the stair). Terms and conditions Carpet stairs before fitting laminate at bottom of stairs? A box of laminate is typically just over 15 square feet, so youll need about 3.5 boxes of laminate for that same flight of stairs. Placing laminate on your stairwell is not quite as straightforward as installing it on your floors or in your living room. Last Updated: September 14, 2021 You may use water or acetone for this. Create a replica tread using cardboard. FloorTechie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Cut them to the same length as your treads and risers. However, one of those will need a lengthwise cut to fit the tread and riser width. The first step in installing laminate flooring is to verify that your staircase has been properly prepared and is ready to be used. We are going to be getting a new stair carpet and new laminate flooring at the bottom of stairs. You can put laminate on stairs, and most laminate manufacturers provide nosing pieces that fit onto the front of the tread. This will avoid future warping, expansion, and contraction of your laminate by allowing it to acclimatize. Once this is done, measure and cut out your pieces of laminate to make tread pieces, riser pieces and stair nosing. You need to read the manufacturers instructions for the nosing installation to determine how much length you need to give for the nose piece. Should I run laminate continuously through rooms, or separate with T moulding? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The average labor cost to install laminate flooring is $1.72 per square foot. It may also void your warranty. If you dont, youll have a on that tread for the life of the stairs. Measure from the bottom to the top of the step and you have your riser width. Sold separately, they fit with the regular laminate planks and go on the edge of the stair tread to provide a clean look and continuity between the tread and riser. Please keep in mind that, if you are not sure in your capacity to self-install, it is always advisable to seek the assistance of a professional. Making cuts on narrow material on a miter saw can be awkward make sure you hold it snug when you cut so it doesnt move. What is the symbol (which looks similar to an equals sign) called? Installing laminate on your stairs is not quite as simple as installing it on your floors. is there such a thing as "right to be heard"? Last but not least, trim the nosing to the same length as the tread and riser sections. To install laminate flooring on stairs, start by removing the overhang, or the underside of the stairs, with a jigsaw. Water damage can be caused by the wood materials, Read More How to Repair Laminate Flooring Water Damage [6 Methods]Continue, The fact that laminate flooring can withstand a lot without being damaged makes it a top pick for many households. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. However, laminate flooring, like other floors, has its own set of installation distinctions. The tread will sit flush up against your riser, so subtract the thickness of the riser from the width of the tread. How to Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs: 13 Steps If you do decide to go with nailing, use a pneumatic (automatic) nailer. To minimize the risk of slipperiness, go for laminate flooring with a textured, matte finish. 158 However, laminate flooring planks also have some drawbacks, such as poor noise dampening capabilities and the inability to be refurbished. So I have 2 areas of concern: Extra Tip: Before you begin putting your flooring, make sure that your sub-floor is as level as possible. Also included is the stair nosing (or trim), which is a decorative piece that drapes over the front of the step. Some nosing will fit into the tongue of the tread and over the top of the riser. tar command with and without --absolute-names option, Embedded hyperlinks in a thesis or research paper. Use a jigsaw to remove the overhang, or attach a piece of plywood to the riser to fill in any gaps left by the removal of the overhang. When something is installed incorrectly, it might create a risky condition that has the potential to end in a major accident. By following the proper installation guidelines, you can easily undertake DIY laminate installation on your stairway. (Easy Guide), How to Take Out Linoleum or Vinyl Flooring? Remember, laminate on stairs does not use underlayment, so you can strike that cost from your budget for this project. In comparison to lamination, the procedures used to manufacture plastic are fundamentally different. Laminate Flooring Moldings Since its harder to keep riser pieces in place until the adhesive sets, you can drive a single nail through the top center part of the board. This article has been viewed 616,245 times. You can do this in a couple of ways. Typically the solution at the bottom of the stairs is to use a quarter-round (Usually 3/4" thick) to cover the flooring and the bottom of the carpet. On the other hand, if your nosing is designed to fit over your tread, then you dont have to worry about leaving the tongue end of your laminate on and you can cut your treads to width however you want. Others fit over the tread and sit in a metal bracket that you screw into the tread subfloor. Measuring the riser length is simple. Laminate is notoriously slippery, especially when wet. This allows enough time for the laminate planks to settle and for the adhesive to set. Fit the laminate first as the carpet will then cover the gap between the laminate and bottom step, which will create a nice neat finish. The flooring is robust, though not as durable as a hardwood floor, which is understandable. You may need to level the subfloor of your steps particularly the center of your stair treads. To acclimatize your laminate planks, let them sit on the staircase for at least 72 hours prior to installation. Below, well go over how to install laminate flooring on stairs so that you can match your stairs to the rest of your floor. A tight bond is critical for laminate on steps. Unlike hardwood flooring that comes in a wide variety of lengths, laminate is one uniform length. Alternatively, you might use construction adhesive to attach the boards to the risers and then install corner molding on the open sides of the risers, and then nail the molding to the stair stringer to hold the riser coverings in place while the glue cures. WebThe best way to finish it off is to cut the bottom riser a little short where it meets the floor. Construction adhesive should be used to secure everything to the flooring. If you are putting your laminate stairs near an exterior door, then chances are water will eventually be carried in by wet feet or shoes. That means youll have to make lengthwise cuts of your laminate planks to fit the risers and treads. Whats more, laminate flooring features a design layer that can be made to mimic the look of different types of flooring. The flooring manufactures say 10mm/12mm gap to cover themselves i think incase something does expand. References. Then, lay the stair noses in position and press them down. After installing underlay material, you can now start measuring and cutting out the laminate planks that youll use on your stairs. Its possible that youll need to trim your board down to fit this purpose. When I laid my laminate floor, the store sold a variety of edging to use where you couldn't simply cover over the gap with baseboards. To do this, open the laminate boxes and arrange them in a lattice pattern on the floor. Laminate flooring planks are a cheap staircase flooring option. or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you. Flooring Then, start laying your laminate by applying three beads of good quality wood glue to the subfloor and then installing the tread pieces.